Lib. VIII. Of the Advancement of Learning. 259 



THE EXPLICATION. 



AMongft the qualities which Princes do chiefly refpeft and require 

 in the choice of their fervants, celerity and aiicnty ?« the Di/patch 

 of Bujiaefs, is above all the reji^ mo§i acceptable. Men of projoufid 

 Wifdom are fufpefted by Rings, as men too fpeculative and penetra- 

 ting, and fuch as are able by the ftrength of wit, as with an engine, 

 to turn and wind their Matters, beyond their comprehenfion and a- 

 gainft their iiTcIination. Popular natures -Ate fpighred as thofe that 

 ftand in the light of Kings, and draw the eyes of the people upon 

 th'erafelves. Metfef courage^ are commonly taken for turbulent fpi- 

 rits, and daring, more than is meet. Honefl men and of an impar- 

 tial upright converfation, are efteemed too ftiff and Stoical 5 nor fo 

 pliable as they (hould be to the whole pleafure of thofe on whom they 

 depend. To conclude, there is not any other good qualit^^which 

 prefents not fbmefhadow, wherewith the minds of Kings dHfciot be 

 offended j only quicknefs ofDifpatch in the execution ofcommMm^hath 

 vothing in it which inay not pleafe. 'Again, the motions of th^minds 

 of Kings are fwift and impatient of delay 5 for they think they can do 

 all things 5 only this is wanting, that it be done out of hand ^ where- 

 fore above all other qualities, celerity is to them ntoji acceptable. 



THE PARABLE. 



EccIef.iY, 



XX. IfaiP all the living which walJ^ jmder the fun ^ 

 with the fuccee ding young Prince, that jhall rife up 

 in bis fie ad. 



THE EXPLIC ATION. 



T He par able notes the vanity of men who are wont toprefs and flocks a- 

 bout the dejigned fueceffors of Princes : The root of this vanity is 

 thatFrenzie, implanted by nature in the minds of men, which is,that 

 they too extremely affeft their ovvn projected hopes. For the man 

 is rarely found that is not more delighted with the contemplation of his fu- 

 ture Hopes ^ than with the fruition of what he pojfejfeth. So further, 

 Novelty is pleafing to mans nature, and earnejily dejired. Now in a fuc- 

 ceffour to a Prince thefe two concur, Hope and Novity. The Para- 

 ble exprefleth the (ame which was long ago utter'd firft by Pompeius 1l^'l\ ^'^'' 

 to Sylla^ after by Tiberias touching Macro j Plures adorarefolem Orien- piurar.in 

 tern qitam Occidentem. Yet notvvithftanding Princes in prefcnt pof- ^^^P- 

 feffion, are not much mov'd with this fond humour 3 nor make any 

 great matter of it, as neither Sylla nor Tiherins did, but rather fmile 

 at the levity of men, and do not ftand to fight with Dre^tw/ j for Hop ^ 

 (ashefaid) is but the Dream of a man awal{e. 



» Kk 2 THE 



